Game Day:Suns (32-39) vs 76ers (42-28), Tues 8/11/20

[bajanguy008]

The Morning After....

Still disappointed smh
I found myself looking ahead so that was the frustrating part, Book was scoring too easily so I wasn't worried about the win but thinking about a critical Mavs game or making the Play-In and the team give that kinda effort was really annoying me
We won our last two because of more talent than anything , the sharpness and execution was lacking a bit.
Criticism is warranted but I try not to be too harsh so as ya parents say if u don't have nothing good to say, say nothing at all re: DA so I chose not to vent.

Really happy that Mikal rhythm from basically garbage time against OKC carried over because although his impact been still obvious the shooting drop off was a little bummer
Another thing that was kool to me is seeing both Cams play through their struggles and still make winning plays in the 4th

[bajanguy008]

Our 23yr old All Star Vet

Lost his head that one time with the fouls but Book has been so awesome. Just love his decision making , so many key passes even in swing moments of the game where you wouldn't fault him for shooting
Like others have said we known for a minute we have a superstar but dude has shown some more stuff this month

[ShelC]

I think we've seen a lot of fatigue from all the guys in the past two games. Book's carried this team in the bubble and even while he looked like he was tired and dragging yesterday, he willed us to a win. That's what franchise players do when the other guys don't have it or even when they themselves don't have it. I don't care that it's only been 7 games, it's been the biggest and most important 7 games of Book's career and the most important for this franchise in probably 10 years. He stepped up and took his game to another level, especially defensively where the intensity's been there consistently.

[O_Gardino]

The Morning After....

Still disappointed smh
I found myself looking ahead so that was the frustrating part, Book was scoring too easily so I wasn't worried about the win but thinking about a critical Mavs game or making the Play-In and the team give that kinda effort was really annoying me
We won our last two because of more talent than anything , the sharpness and execution was lacking a bit.
Criticism is warranted but I try not to be too harsh so as ya parents say if u don't have nothing good to say, say nothing at all re: DA so I chose not to vent.

Really happy that Mikal rhythm from basically garbage time against OKC carried over because although his impact been still obvious the shooting drop off was a little bummer
Another thing that was kool to me is seeing both Cams play through their struggles and still make winning plays in the 4th

I know what you mean. It's still frustrating.

But, when was the last time we won no pure talent? It's been a while since we were on this side of that kind of game.

[Indy]

He has a ton of talent but it’s to the point where it’s obvious his teammates look him off because they don’t trust him. They appear to be getting frustrated with him like we are.

I've noticed this as well. They start the game trying to get him some good looks, but by the 4th or 5th possession, it's like they've moved onto a more ball movement oriented offense.

The other players have recently seemed to be less patient with his attempts at getting post position as well. I can remember countless times a teammate would waste 3 seconds trying to get him the ball and ultimately fail, but now it's like 90% of the time they just look him off and swing the pass the other way.

Ayton recently got a rebound (or maybe a lose ball) right under the rim, kicked it out, and then tried to get post position 3 feet further out from where he just secured the ball in the first place. It's stuff like that that just makes me think he'll never get it.

I thought one of the "cons" in his draft analysis was his teammates didn't like playing with him.

[Indy]

The Morning After....

Still disappointed smh
I found myself looking ahead so that was the frustrating part, Book was scoring too easily so I wasn't worried about the win but thinking about a critical Mavs game or making the Play-In and the team give that kinda effort was really annoying me
We won our last two because of more talent than anything , the sharpness and execution was lacking a bit.
Criticism is warranted but I try not to be too harsh so as ya parents say if u don't have nothing good to say, say nothing at all re: DA so I chose not to vent.

Really happy that Mikal rhythm from basically garbage time against OKC carried over because although his impact been still obvious the shooting drop off was a little bummer
Another thing that was kool to me is seeing both Cams play through their struggles and still make winning plays in the 4th

I know what you mean. It's still frustrating.

But, when was the last time we won no pure talent? It's been a while since we were on this side of that kind of game.

Very true. Which makes it even more disappointing that we gave away easy games this year (Warriors & Pistons just off top of my head) that could have put us in the playoffs against the Lakers. Instead we could win out in the bubble and not even make the play in games.

[Ring_Wanted]

Ayton is not a basketball mind, but he is coachable. His flaws are well known, but everything looks worse because he is not Luka Doncic, yet we are looking at a guy whose floor is 20-12 with difference-making defense. Teams already need to scheme in order to limit his impact on offense. I can be happy with that, even if his mouth is bigger than it should.

[Indy]

Ayton is not a basketball mind, but he is coachable. His flaws are well known, but everything looks worse because he is not Luka Doncic, yet we are looking at a guy whose floor is 20-12 with difference-making defense. Teams already need to scheme in order to limit his impact on offense. I can be happy with that, even if his mouth is bigger than it should.

If he makes another leap from year 2 to year 3 like he did with defense from year 1 to year 2, he will be a very good center (top 5?) in this league next year. He won't be a focal point of the offense, but might have enough gravity to give more open shots to our other guys and get the rebounds when we miss.

[specialsauce]

We are 4th in offensive and 3rd in defensive rating in the bubble. Probably inflated some but this team is constructed with a vision. Damn good job by James Jones and Monty. Do not throw in players that will not fit that identity .....cough, cough. Stick to the blueprint.

[Indy]

We are 4th in offensive and 3rd in defensive rating in the bubble. Probably inflated some but this team is constructed with a vision. Damn good job by James Jones and Monty. Do not throw in players that will not fit that identity .....cough, cough. Stick to the blueprint.

Kelly is:

3rd on the team in defensive win shares (behind Mikal and Rubio)
Tied for 2nd with Mikal in DRtg
1st in rebounding rate for SFs
2nd in rebounding rate for PFs (behind Dario)
2nd in TO% behind Cam Johnson

His defense is much better than plenty of other players on the team.

[Superbone]

We are 4th in offensive and 3rd in defensive rating in the bubble. Probably inflated some but this team is constructed with a vision. Damn good job by James Jones and Monty. Do not throw in players that will not fit that identity .....cough, cough. Stick to the blueprint.

Kelly is:

3rd on the team in defensive win shares (behind Mikal and Rubio)
Tied for 2nd with Mikal in DRtg
1st in rebounding rate for SFs
2nd in rebounding rate for PFs (behind Dario)
2nd in TO% behind Cam Johnson

His defense is much better than plenty of other players on the team.

Ooooh. Saucy just got OWNED!

[Indy]

I just pointed out his stats. I think we forget that when he was playing, he was often the most energetic guy on the floor on the defensive side. Mikal is so much more effective, but Kelly made things happen on both ends. He was probably our best 2-way player this season (I would have given that to Baynes if the season was just our first 25 games).

[Mori Chu]

Ooooh. Saucy just got OWNED!

[specialsauce]

And once again as usual with Kelly, it is not about individual stats. Look at where the teams defensive rating was all year. Look where it is now. Individual defense < Team defense. He takes risks, his ass is exposed and the team suffers. His personal defensive rating I would guess inflated because of blocks and steals, and don’t factor in the 5 gambles he takes to get 1 steal.


Love that the defense of Kelly is always

“He brings so much swagger”

“His energy!”

“He makes the team happy!”

Nevermind the fact that the team is playing better on both ends of the court without him.

Really looks like they’re missing all that on the court right now.

[Nodack]

Just because they are playing well without him doesn’t mean they would play worse with him imo.

Bones : “You know, back home we have a saying: "If you're gonna ride in the Kentucky Derby, you don't leave your prize stallion in the stable." Spock : A curious metaphor, doctor, as a stallion must first be broken before it can reach its potential.

[Superbone]

Ooooh. Saucy just got OWNED!

All we need is the head bop now!

[Mori Chu]

All we need is the head bop now!

[Mori Chu]

[Mori Chu]

[Mori Chu]